Again; I have to speak for myself that no man in my life has ever been a bread winner; actually he has been a drain on me financially. No man or woman are an Island but that is where friends and family come in; one need not be in a relationship. I sometimes wonder if men don't bring this grief on themselves. For instance; they say they want an independent woman that can do things for herself but when they meet her; they run the opposite direction as they feel they are not needed by the woman. Or my favourite; they state they want a woman they can take care of and pamper and when the woman is what they want; they whine that the woman is useless. This is exactly why I choose to stay single as I want to be the person I want to be. As for staying positive; no one can walk around staying positive all the time. Things get us down and its perfectly human to feel pissed off or depressed. If people can't accept that; then that is their problem. Its possible you will win the arm wrestling dear; but I won't go down witout one hell of a fight.

You are right, it is perfectly natural for people to get down and depressed.

Frankly, i expect nothing from online dating and i don't base my self-worth or happyness on it but i do get dissapointed, not even so much that it hasn't become a date factory but peoples behavior.

I am not talking about the forums but what i mentioned in my earlier post.

It brings out the worst in people. Shyness, Vanity, Arrogance, Paranoia and Apprehention, Self-Doubt, General flakyness and lack of common courtesy.

So yea, Andy lots of us feel your pain.

Long walks are my personal best friend (i can't have a dog in my apt :(

You seem like an interesting and smart guy, Have you traveled?

I have only traveled once before but during that time i met more interesting people, made more friends and yes even met more women then i typically do where i live. Some people make traveling a permanent part of there lives. I would suggest youth-hostels but if you havent done it yet i warn you, they are rough and you will never sleep.....

I very recently spent two weeks in the BACKWOODS of Northern California rockhounding! Where I was there was no bathrooms, facilities, or anything other than a mountain, forest, and dirt. I was in Lassen (Modoc National Forest) and Mount Pearson Northern end of the Long Valley. I was in the mountains and in the high desert.

So yes I do travel. I even did some light rockhounding in the Orego Badlands on that trip on my way back from Portalnd. I would love to have an excuse to go to Oregon again but since my mom moved from there I have no real reason to visit again. I do intend another visit to Mount Pearson.

I camp Iron Man style.

As to your past BFs, Don't you folks in the navy call them 'Scrubs?' Ain't even worth scrubbing a deck?

Well, I'm not going to try to justify any of those behaviors, because none of them apply to me. I can see where all of them would be total turnoffs.

Yes, you are right about my past BFs, but I call them "Gash" which is our term for garbage. I know we are supposed to learn from out past mistakes and just move on. I am at the point that I am tird of getting knocked down and yes my past BFs contributed to it but also just meeting men on a daily basis has put me off dating/relationships for good. Life is too short to subject myself to anymore misery.

nope its getting to be a big way of lies to live life anymore or at least be quiet they tell me used to have alot more fun just having fun for a night then going back home now every one wants instant marrage vows lol run jim run. be nice to have fun an get to know them first .

well I am only half serious Lex - I see some humor there, and I am exaggerating to some degree as well (I hope).

I agree that's it's best to avoid uber used cliches in profiles because it doesn't tell anything about the person except that they can't think of anything to say...

I think you just need to take it with a pinch of salt, otherwise it gets a bit much. Just ignore the ones that ignore you,